Gun-carriage.



G. WIENHOLTZ. GUN CARRIAGE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 5, 1912.

Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

2 sums-sum 1.

' G. WIENHOLT'Z.

GUN .GARRIAGE. APPLIOAITIOH FILED APR-5, 1912.

2 sums-sum 2.

Patented NOV. 25, 1913..

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFrcE.

enone WIENHOLTZ, or ESSEN-ON-THE-RUHR, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO FRIED. KBUPP AKTIEN'GESELLSCHAFT, or :assnn-on-rnn-annn, GERMANY.

GUN-CARRIAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

Application filed April 5, 1912. Serial No. 688,676.

- device, which adjusts itself when the axle is reversed and'limits the movement of elevation for each firing height to such an extent, that the gun barrel can never be given so high an elevation that it will hit the ground during the recoil. I

The accompanying drawings, representing one embodiment of thepresent invention show in Figure 1 a side view, partly-insection, of the lowest firing height of the gun carriage with the gun barrel slightlyelevated; Fig. 2 a part of Fig. 1 in larger scale; Fig. 3, a top, plan view of Fig. 1, with some of the details broken off, Fig. 4, a front view of Fig. 1, but with the gun barrel laid level; Fig. 5a vie-w corresponding to Fig. 1 but showing the mean firing height of the gun carriage with the gun barrel in mean elevation. Fig. 6 another sideview corresponding to Fig 1, but showing the greatest firing height of the gun carriage and with the gun barrel in highest elevation.

The gun barrel is guided on the slide carrier or cradle B. which includes the brake and counter recoil-device (not shown in the drawing). By means of horizontal trunnions b the cradle B rests in bearings on the trail body D. Anelevating gear, having a toothed are C and a hand wheel P, is inserted between the cradleB and the trail body D. The elevating gear has for the sake of clearness been omitted in Figs. 2, 5 and-6.

The axle for the carriage wheels E is cranked, and consists of the cranked axle shanks Gr and the middle part G which latter is mounted to turn in the trail body D. 1 The bent back arms 9 of the axle shanks G are fiattenedout to the semi-circulari disks which possess each five holes 9, g,

g, 9,andg (Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6). Each.

pair of these-holes may be brought to register with a pair of holes in the adjacent walls.

of the trail body D, by corresponding adust-ment of the wheel axle. As a consequence, the wheel axle may be secured in five different positions relative to the trail body, by the insertion of a key bolt H- in one oft-he holes 9 to g and the hole in the trail side (see Figs. .1, 2' and 4 to 6); and the carfiring heights.

The rear end of the cradle B carries two projecting arms N, which are intended tocooperate with two stepped disks R, secured on the middle part G of'the wheel axle. Each of these disks is provided with five working surfaces 1', r 1:, r and 1' (see Figs. 1, 2', 5 and 6) for cooperation with a toe n on the free end of the projecting arms N. The working surfaces 1" to 1' are arranged in such a mannerthat in any one of the firing heights of the carriage, the movement of the projecting'arm N, and subsequently of the gun barrel, is limited to such an extent by one of the working surfaces,

that the gun barrel can never be given such an elevation, that it. could hit the ground when recoiling.

If the gun has to be fired at only slight elevation. the carriage is given its lowest firing height, that is, the wheel axle is given such a position relative to the trailbody, that the middle part Gr thereof will be located perpendicularly underneath the axle shanks G (Figs. 1 to 4:), securing the wheel axle rigidly to the trail body by inserting the key bolts in the holes 9 of the arms of the axleshanks. The working surfaces 1" of the stepped disk R will then'be in the path of the projecting arms N, so that the gun barrel can only be elevated up to the position illustrated in Fig. 1, in which elevation the gun barrel will not reach the ground during the recoil. -(See the position of the i'ecoiled breech end indicated by dot and dash lines in Fig. 1.)

Should the gun barrel have to be given a mean elevation, that means, an elevation high enough to cause the breech of the gun to hit the ground in case the lowest firin height were retained then the'key bolts are removed, the wheel axle turned to. the position indicated in Fig. 5, wherein the holes 9 of the axle shank-arms-g, register with the holes in the trail sides, and lastly, the Wheel axle locked to the trail body by means of the key bolts H. y The middle part 'riage may therefore be given five different on the projecting arms N form \Vhen it is desired' to give the gun barrel,

its highest elevation, the carriageis set at its greatest firing height (Fig. 6), where the holes 9 of the arms 9 of the axle shanks,

register with the holes of the trail sides. The working surfaces r of the stepped disks the path of the projecting arms N.

Besides the three mentioned firing heights of the carriage there are two intermediate positions, wherein either the one or the other of the holes 9 or g of the arms 9 of the axle shanks register with the holes in the trail sides and one or the other of the working surfaces 'r or 9", respectively lies in the path of the projecting arms N. Should. the gun barrel have the maximum elevation for each of the adjusted firing heights, as in the case for instance, in Figs. 5 and 6, a diminishing of the firing height can only be undertaken after the guns elevation has been diminished; as otherwise after diminishing the firing height the breech end of the gun barrel will strike the ground before reaching the end of the recoil. The step surfaces 1', r, r and r '(Fig. 2) between the working surfaces 1', 1' r, r and r of the stepped disks R, have been provided to. prevent any breach of. this rule, as these surfaces together with the toes n stops when touching. A reduction of the firing height is therefore only possible after the faces n have been brought out of engagement with the faces 1', r, r", and r of the stepped disks R; this means, after the elevation of the gun barrel has been diminished so much, that the breech end of therecoiling gun barrel will not strike the ground.

I claim p 1. In a gun carriage having a rocking member partaking of the elevating movement of the gun barrel and a trail wherein said rocking member is mounted; the combination of a cranked wheel axle, the middle part of which is mounted to turn in said trail; a cent the trail sides; a plurality of bolt holes in said flanges; a bolt hole in each of said trall sides; a pair of key bolts adapted to lock said cranked axle to said trail to prevent its turning therein, by means of said and either pair es, for the purthe gun arrel diflerent ound by using different holes, and members on bolt holes in the trail sides of said bolt holes in the flan ose of giving eights from the pairs of flange b0 t nearest the axle part G are then located in pair of flanges on said axle adjasaid trail and rocking member adapted to limit the maximum elevation of the gun barrel for each of said different heights.

2. In a gun carriage having a cradle for carrying the gun barrel and a trail in which the cradle is mounted to rock; the combination of a cranked wheel axle, the middle part of which is mounted to pair of flanges on said axle adjacent the trail sides; a plurality of bolt holes in said flanges; a bolt hole in each of said'trail sides; a pair of key bolts adapted to lock said cranked axle to said trail to prevent its turningtherein', by means of said bolt holes in the trail sides and either pair of said bolt holes in the flanges, for the purpose of giving the gun barrel different heights from the ground by using different pairs of flange bolt holes and-members on said trail and cradle adapted to limit the maximum elevation of the gun barrel for each of said different heights.

3. In a gun carriage having a rocking member partaking of the elevating movement, of the gun barrel, atrail wherein said rocking member is mounted, and an. independent elevating gear for elevating said rocking member with the gun barrel relative to said trail; the combination of a cranked wheel axle constructed to give a plurality of fixed firing heights to the gun barrel; radial disks on the middle part of said wheel axle; arms projecting downward from said rocking member and adapted to cooperate with said radial disks to limit the maximum elevation of the gun barrel for each of said fixed firing heights.

7, 4. 'In a gun carriage having a cradle with the gun barrel slidably mounted thereon, a trail in which the cradle is mounted to rock, and an independent elevating gear for elevating said cradle with the gun barrel relative to said trail; the combination of a cranked wheel axle constructed to give a plurality of fixed firing heights to the gun barrel; radial disks on the middle part of said wheel axle; arms projecting downward from said cradle and adapted to coiiperate with said radial disks to limit the maximum elevation of the 11 barrel for each of said fixed firing heights.

5. In a gun carriage having a cradle with the gun barrel slida ly mounted thereon, a trail in which the cradle is mounted to rock, and an independent elevating gear for elevating said cradle with the gun barrel relative to said trail; the combination of a cranked wheel axle constructed to give a plurality of fixed firing heights to the gun barrel; radial disks on the middle part of said wheelaxle; each of said radial disks being composed of a plurality of circle sectors of' different radii; arms projecting downward from said cradle and adapted to cooperate with said radial disks to limit the maximum turn in said trail; a

' elevation of the gun barrel for each of said novaew fixed firing heights.

' 6. In a gun carriage having the cradle with the gun barrel slidably mounted thereon; a trail in which the cradle is mounted to rock, and an independent elevating gear for elevating said cradle with the gun barrel relative to said trail; the combination of 'a cranked wheel axle constructed to give a plurality of fixed heights to the gun barrel, a plurality-of circle sectors of different radii, forming stepped radial disks on the middle part of said wheel axle with the number of steps equal to the number of firing heights of the gun barrel; arms projecting downward from said cradle and adapted to cooperate with said radial disks to limit the maximum elevation of the gun barrel for each of said fixed firing heightsi 7 In a gun carriage having a cradle with the gun barrel slidably mounted thereon; a trail in which the cradle is mounted to rock and an independent elevating gear for elevating said cradle with the gun barrel relative to said trail; the combination of a cranked wheel axle constructed to give a lurality of fixed firing heights to the gun arrel. a lurality of circle sectors of diflerent radii orming stepped radial disks on the middle part of said wheel axle with the number of steps equal to the number of firing heights of the gun barrel; arms projecting downward from said cradle and adapted to coiiperate with said radial disks to limit the 11 barrel for maximum elevation of the each of said fixed firing heig ts; the circle sector of the longest radius intended for the lowest firing height, and that of the next longest radius intended for the next lowest firing height, whereby the maximum gun barrel elevation for each firing height is greater than the maximum gun barrel elevation of the next lower firing height.

8. In a gun carriage having a cradle with the gun barrel slidably mounted thereon; a trail in which the cradle is mounted to rock, and an independent elevating gear for elevating said cradle with the gun barrel relative to said trail; the combination of a cranked wheel axle constructed to give a plurality of fixed firing heights to the n barrel, a plurality of circle sectors of di erent radii, forming stepped radial disks on the middle part of said wheel axle with the number of steps equal to the number of firing heights of the gun barrel; arms projecting downward from said cradle and adapted to cooperate with said radial disks to limit the maximum elevation of the gun barrel for each of said fixed firing heights, a shoulder on each of said arms engaging the respective radial surfaces of said steps at the re spective maximum gun barrel elevations, whereby any change of firing height from a greater to a smaller will be prevented until after the lowering of the elevation of the gun barrel.

9. In a gun carriage having a rocking -mernbe r partaking of the elevation move- ,ment of the GEORG 'WIENHOLTZ. [a a] In presence of HELEN N'UFER,

ALBERT NUFER. 

